WRKR’s A$11.4M Deal for PaidRight Accelerates Payroll Compliance Expansion

Strategic Expansion Beyond Superannuation

WRKR Limited (ASX, WRK) has announced a binding agreement to acquire PaidRight Holdings Pty Ltd, a prominent Australian payroll compliance platform. This acquisition represents a pivotal step in WRKR’s Phase 2 growth strategy, extending its compliance solutions beyond superannuation into the broader payroll compliance arena. Valued at approximately A$11.4 million through a scrip transaction, the deal is poised to reshape how Australian employers manage wage compliance.

PaidRight brings nearly a decade of research and development, including technology born from CSIRO’s Data61 RegTech team and PwC Ventures. Its sophisticated AI-powered pay model engine interprets complex Australian wage laws and awards, addressing challenges that traditional payroll systems often struggle to manage. This technology has already supported accurate pay outcomes for over 500,000 Australians and processed $15 billion in wages over five years.

Complementary Technologies and Market Reach

The acquisition merges WRKR’s established platform and market scale with PaidRight’s innovative real-time payroll compliance technology. Together, they aim to simplify and enhance compliance accuracy across the entire pay cycle for millions of Australian employers and workers. WRKR CEO Trent Lund, who co-founded PaidRight, brings deep familiarity with both businesses, ensuring a smooth integration and strategic alignment.

While PaidRight will initially operate as a standalone entity, integration plans are underway to deliver a combined WRKR-PaidRight solution targeted for commercial launch in the third quarter of 2026. This phased approach prioritizes transitioning employers and members onto WRKR’s platform while leveraging PaidRight’s modular compliance checks and remediation services.

Financial and Governance Considerations

The transaction involves issuing 90,909,091 WRKR shares to PaidRight shareholders, representing approximately 4.8% of WRKR’s current issued capital. Shareholder approval is required and expected to be sought at a general meeting in early 2026, accompanied by an Independent Expert Report assessing the fairness of the deal. Notably, WRKR’s capital raise in August 2025 allocated $1.5-2.0 million towards this acquisition, covering product development, growth initiatives, and working capital.

Governance safeguards include an independent board committee overseeing the transaction due to WRKR CEO Trent Lund’s dual roles and shareholdings in both companies. Escrow arrangements and customary restraints are in place to protect shareholder interests and ensure continuity post-acquisition.

Looking Ahead, Integration and Market Impact

The combined entity is expected to capitalize on overlapping market messaging, partner ecosystems, and system integrations, particularly focusing on Award-based employment roles. By uniting WRKR’s superannuation compliance expertise with PaidRight’s payroll compliance technology, the company aims to offer a proactive, continuous compliance monitoring solution that mitigates wage compliance risks for enterprise clients.

As the integration progresses, investors and market watchers will be keen to see how WRKR leverages this acquisition to strengthen its competitive positioning and deliver value to Australian employers navigating complex payroll regulations.